Cesc Fabregas has shared insights on how he selects players for Como and reflected on the tactical depth of Serie A, describing it as so intricate that at times it becomes ‘impossible to understand what’s happening.’

COMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Como 1907 head coach Cesc Fabregas was seen giving instructions to his player Anastasios Douvikas during the Serie A encounter between Como 1907 and ACF Fiorentina at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on February 14, 2026, in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The Spanish coach, who previously represented Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, and AS Monaco, has brought his vast experience into his coaching role at Como, helping to shape the club’s impressive rise.

Under his leadership, Como advanced from Serie B to securing a Champions League berth within just two seasons, supported by the financial backing of President Mirwan Suwarso and analytical collaboration with Jamestown Analytics.

Despite his embrace of data-driven approaches, Fabregas emphasised that analytics can never replace the human element of coaching.

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 21: Nico Paz of Como 1907 is seen in discussion with head coach Cesc Fabregas during the Coppa Italia Semi-Final between FC Internazionale and Como 1907 at the San Siro on April 21, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“The first thing we evaluate is the person. In my initial meeting with a player, I don’t speak about football at all. I only talk about their personal life,” Fabregas explained in an interview with The Athletic.

“I want to understand their mentality and explain our identity — how we work, what we stand for. The players and their families are the most important elements. You establish the cultural values of the team and the club first, and only after that do we discuss football.”

“I trust my players completely. When a coach has blind faith in his players — of course, there are always things beyond control — you will always get the best out of them. That’s something you can’t achieve if a player is signed only because of good data, but the coach doesn’t truly know or believe in them.”

GENOA, ITALY – APRIL 26: Como head coach Cesc Fabregas watches on before kick-off during the Serie A fixture between Genoa CFC and Como 1907 at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium on April 26, 2026, in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Fabregas highlighted that his full autonomy at Como is one of the main reasons he is in no hurry to move elsewhere, contrasting his club’s structure with others that operate differently.

“What I find difficult to understand is when clubs sign players without consulting the coach or without the coach analysing and speaking to the player. It’s the coach who must make these players perform and develop.”

He described Serie A as a “university of football” for any coach, noting how quickly rival teams adapted to Como’s tactical style within months.

“In Italy, many teams focus on how to neutralise you by pressing and defending, not necessarily by attacking,” he said.

“This means that a side aspiring to win must be prepared to dismantle a defence designed to frustrate and hurt you. It demands incredible attention to every detail.”

“How do you escape constant man-to-man duels when your team isn’t physically dominant? We rely on skill and technique rather than sheer strength. We’re a team built on talent, not physicality.”

“To put it another way, opponents try to drag you into their kind of battle. They know you want to play with the ball, so you must pull them into uncomfortable positions and exploit their weaknesses.”

“Winning in Italy is extremely difficult. People often point out the number of 0-0 and 1-0 results — and they’re right. Believe me, I analyse a lot of football across leagues like the Bundesliga, La Liga, and the Premier League. Teams defend very differently in Italy.”

“When you watch Premier League teams, you can easily see their structure and what they’re trying to implement. Their style is often clear. But here, many times it’s impossible to decipher what’s happening. That’s why attention to detail is absolutely essential,” Fabregas concluded.